The Black Phone (2022)
Now to own on Digital, Blu-Ray and DVD.
The Black Phone offers a mix of psychological thriller and horror drama, complete with a supernatural twist.
Directed by Scott Derrickson and written by Derrickson and his regular writing partner C. Robert Cargill, the film cost just $18 million to make, but looks better than many bigger budget films.
The money is definitely on the screen in the first half hour of the film, in which a 1978 suburb of Denver is credibly portrayed full of period detail.
During that period, the neighborhood is terrorized by a children killer, nicknamed The Grabber, who has a nasty habit of making his victims disappear without a trace.
Alas, 13-year-old Finney (Mason Thames) is also in the wrong place at the wrong time and disappears, first in the black van of the masked Grabber (a powerful turn by Ethan Hawke) and then in the soundproof basement of the place where he is being held.
His foul-mouthed sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw in a star making turn) doesn't give up. She uses her gift - she is afflicted with prophetic dreams - to help the police in their work.
However, the sensitive Finney gets the most help from the apparently broken black telephone hanging in the basement. From the moment it starts to ring, well... the rest you'll have to see for yourself, the film is certainly worth it.
In terms of atmosphere, The Black Phone fits in well with successful productions such as the Stranger Things series, and also the two recent It films, which were based on the work of Stephen King.
The Black Phone happens to be an adaptation of a short story by King’s son, Joe Hill. Scott Derrickson turned it into a film that is thrilling and sometimes scary, but at the same time suitable for a wider audience than just fans of the horror genre.
The director places more importance on character development and story than on jump scares (even though there are a few) and patiently works towards a climax, which is very rewarding.
It is also clear that he sides with ‘The good people’ in the film. One of the major themes of the film is that Finney has to learn to stand up for himself, even in captivity.
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill made both Sinister and Doctor Strange together, but this is their best movie yet: a great story, a terrific ensemble cast and ultimately a satisfying ending.
The Black Phone really has it all.
all images: © Universal/UPI